Choosing Dental Hygiene as a Career

Choosing Dental Hygiene as a Career

If you are choosing a career or thinking about changing your career, you may want to consider dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is one of the fastest growing career paths around these days, and it can be a very well paying career at that. Choosing dental hygiene as a career can be a very good career move.

You will, of course, need special schooling if you are going to choose dental hygiene as the career you want to get into. The good news is that some dental hygiene programs are shorter than regular degree programs. Most colleges offer programs that last from a few months to just a year so you can obtain your hygienist license. Once you have that certificate, you can then get on the road toward a new career.

What exactly does a dental hygienist do? Well, depending on the state you live in, the duties vary. However, all dental hygienists clean people’s teeth and advise them on proper dental care. Some hygienists also assist the dentist in procedures such as placing fillings in teeth, doing root canals, and examinations.

If you will be choosing dental hygiene as a career, you should prepare early – in high school if possible. You should take several mathematics and science courses to prepare you for the college classes you’ll have to take. Biology, chemistry, and algebra are good classes to start with.

After you have graduated, find a dental hygiene programs that you like. It could be through your local community college or a specialized dental hygiene school. Make sure the school you choose is accredited and legitimate. The American Dental Association has a list of accredited schools available for download on their website located at www.ada.org.

If you are thinking about choosing dental hygiene as a career, keep in mind that you have to have acute manual dexterity as you will be working with small tools in a small area. The good news is that many dental hygienists have flexible schedules so if you want to pursue other interests or further your education; this is a career that can support that.

There are many career paths that you can choose. Picking the right one is an important life decision. Choosing dental hygiene as a career can be a great option for the right person. If you think this is something you’d like to do, start right now and don’t stop until you’ve achieved your goal!